Frequently Asked Questions
Company Info & Location
About Us
Southern Cross Jewels (registration number: 2023/101964/07) is a South African online jewellery retailer, offering a number of in-house designs for purchase and bespoke jewellery services.
Our headquarters and manufacturing workshop are located in the heart of the Cape Town city bowl, and we ship both internationally and to anywhere within South Africa.
Can I arrange for an in-person viewing or meeting?
Unfortunately, as an online-only store, our team is not usually able to meet with clients for in-person viewings of our pieces. As our HQ is directly situated within our manufacturing workshop that handles high-value materials daily, this is for security purposes as well as logistical ones.
However, we are more than happy to do whatever we can to assist you in an online capacity, whether that’s taking a photo of a ring on someone’s hand, a video of the piece in the sunlight, HD closeups etc, whatever setting you’d like to see!
Ordering
Can I change my order once I have placed it?
Only items in stock can be changed before shipping. Credit payment will only be reimbursed once reflected in our account.
Please reach out to the team’s high-priority channel at team@southerncrossjewels.co.za to discuss any concerns regarding your order prior to shipping.
Do you do engravings?
Yes! Engravings can be done as an additional service and the cost will be quoted accordingly, please enquire via email.
Do I need to sign up to buy from Southern Cross Jewels?
No, you don’t have to sign up or create an account with us in order to place an order, as all essential information for your order will be provided at the checkout screen.
However, creating an account is quick and easy and will allow you to move through our checkout process quicker, see your order history and save your shipping details for future purchases.
The item I love is sold out. How do I order that item?
You can email us at orders@southerncrossjewels.co.za with either the item SKU (the 6-digit number above the product description), an image or a screenshot of the product page.
Please keep in mind that if we do not have it in stock, the item may need to be manufactured which takes between 2-3 weeks or longer if individual materials need to be custom-ordered.
Do you offer lay-by payments?
While Southern Cross Jewels do not offer traditional lay-bys, we do have a number of ways to go about paying off your jewellery piece if a full payment cannot be paid immediately.
Stock items can be reserved if purchased using the MoreTyme payment option, which allows for you to pay off your piece over a set period of time.
However, the team can organise a manual split-payment option for some of our clients on request, wherein the piece is paid off in two or three manual interest-free installations via our website. If this is something that would interest you, please reach out to us at hello@southerncrossjewels.co.za and we would be more than happy to explain the process further.
Ring Sizing and Resizing
I don't know what my ring size is. How do I find out?
We highly recommend visiting a jeweller to have your ring size professionally measured as this is the most accurate way to obtain your ring size.
If you are unable to do this, but you have a ring that fits on the finger you would like to wear your new piece, the second best option would be to measure the inside diameter of that ring using a ruler. Please make sure to use the INSIDE measurement and measure in millimeters. We can use this measurement to calculate your ring size.
The ring I love is not in my size. Can you resize it for me?
This depends on the design of the ring.
Rings with intricate details on the band or full eternities may not be possible to resize and will need to be made up from scratch in your desired size.
We offer free resizing for two sizes up or down with every Southern Cross Jewels ring purchase that can be resized.
If you need to resize more than two sizes up or down, the ring will likely need to be made from scratch. If your desired ring size is more than two sizes up from the original stock size, we may also need to add a small surcharge to cover the cost of the extra metal used.
Shipping and Delivery
We use all major carriers, and local courier partners. You’ll be asked to select a delivery method during checkout.
What is your shipping policy?
We offer free domestic shipping on any orders made over our R2 000 threshold, and internationally on orders above 750 USD.
For our full policy, please visit our shipping & delivery page here.
How long does delivery take?
Southern Cross Jewels is partnered with TheCourierGuy to ensure secure and efficient domestic deliveries.
TheCourierGuy orders typically take between 2-5 working days to deliver (closer to 2 days for major cities and delivery hubs, and closer to 5 days for more rural and isolated areas), though this ETA can change due to external factors – for example, the holiday season rush.
As such, it is important to ensure that your pieces are ordered at least a week in advance of any events or deadlines that the pieces are needed for in order to guarantee a timely delivery.
Please note that if you have ordered a ring that requires resizing, this would add at least a day onto the 2-5 day delivery ETA in order to accommodate for the alteration.
Deliveries in and around the Cape Town CBD may qualify for same-day delivery if the local courier is booked before 10am.
Will my item be insured?
All jewellery and loose stones will remain the responsibility and property of Southern Cross Jewels until signed for on behalf of the recipient, which would include its courier journey to you.
All of our customers are entitled to a free valuation certificate for their Southern Cross Jewels piece on request, which can be given to your private insurance provider should you wish to have your jewellery piece properly insured after it is delivered to you.
Custom Designs
Can I have something custom-made in silver?
Yes of course! All of our existing or bespoke designs can be made up in sterling silver or 9/14/18k gold, as well as platinum, on request.
Please enquire at orders@southerncrossjewels.co.za to receive your quote for any one of our existing designs using alternative materials, or designs@southerncrossjewels.co.za for your fully-custom piece.
What should my budget for a bespoke jewellery piece be?
The price of a custom piece varies depending on the type of metal and stones you’d like to use for the design.
Sterling silver is more affordable than gold and 18k gold is more expensive than 9k gold. Diamonds and earth-grown precious stones such as rubies and sapphires are generally more expensive than semi-precious or lab-grown stones.
If you are at all concerned that your initial budget might not cover the full cost for your bespoke ring and its desired materials, the team is also happy to make suggestions for alternative gemstones to help keep things affordable during your bespoke design journey with us.
Sharing your budget with us from the beginning is a great help for us to design a piece that perfectly aligns with your vision and financial boundaries.
To receive your quote for a custom-designed piece, please reach out to our design team at designs@southerncrossjewels.co.za and a team member will walk you through the process.
What type of gold do you work with?
We work with solid 9, 14 and 18 karat gold metal in yellow, white and rose colours.
Do you work with platinum?
Yes, we can manufacture most items in platinum.
Can I provide my own stones?
You are welcome to provide your own gemstones, however, we cannot insure them and the risk remains the clients’ if something should happen in manufacture.
We stock a large selection of stones and highly recommend that you choose one of our stones for your custom piece. As we only buy from reputable suppliers you can rest assured our stones have been tested for authenticity and quality.
If you would like to use an heirloom stone for your bespoke jewellery piece, we would need its measurements in millimetres and a photo of the stone during the quoting stage in order for our designer to make the necessary adjustments to the preliminary 3D models and quotes.
Once you are happy with the preliminary quotes provided, we will arrange for your stone to be safely couriered or dropped off with us.
Upon its arrival, your stone is re-measured to ensure full accuracy, photographed and tested using our gemstone indicator test. Any adjustments that need to be made to the models at this point are made, and your quote can be finalised for payment.
Only once payment is made would your stone be entered into manufacturing.
Are you able to source a stone for me?
This highly depends on the type and size of the stones, and varies on a case-by-case basis. Some stones cannot be easily sourced in South Africa, while others are readily-available from our suppliers.
Please feel free to get in touch with us with your desired gemstone type, shape and cut, and we will do our best to assist.
How long does the custom design process take?
Once you have approved the final design, manufacturing takes 3-4 weeks or longer if certain elements need to be custom-ordered.
As this process can be quite lengthy, it is a good idea to reach out several months in advance of your deadline to ensure any revisions made to the design can be completed on time.
What if my ring doesn't fit?
It is important to know one’s ring size prior to ordering, as even a few millimetres can make a sizeable difference in terms of a ring’s fit.
However, we are more than happy to resize your ring if possible.
We offer free resizing within two sizes up or down with every Southern Cross Jewels ring purchase that can be resized. If you need to resize more than two sizes in either direction, we may not be able to resize the existing ring, and we would have to remake your ring from scratch.
Alternatively, local third-party gold or silversmiths might be happy to assist with resizing if couriering the ring back-and-forth proves to be too complicated, and can be a much more convenient option. Please note that any pieces altered by another jeweller or smith would, however, void our responsibility for the ring going forward.
Can I still have a custom piece made if I don't live in South Africa?
Of course! Many of our custom design pieces have been for international clients. We do online consultations and correspond via Zoom, email and Skype.
Thanks to CAD technology, sharing design concepts is easier than ever! You will be able to visualise your creation before production begins through realistic 3D renderings.
Get in touch
Have questions about your order, or a general enquiry?